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Post subject: Strat questions
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 8:59 am
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If you are only looking at a strat body (no neck, electonics, etc), how can you identify an American made vs. MIM, MIK, MIC, MII or even if it's a Fender at all? I know they all vary, but what makes the American different visually (not wood type or construction)? I have seen a few bodies with ink stamping under where the neck bolts on, but it's not on many. Is there a guide somewhere? Measurements? Basically, if a guy were to look at a body that was being sold as an American made body, how could he ever know that's what it really is? How would he know it wasn't one made elsewhere?

Also, does anyone know how many American Stratocasters Fender makes in a year?

Thank you!


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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 10:58 am
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Good luck . I' ll wait to read answer , there is no receipies if no Fender parts number on it .


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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 12:43 pm
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One possible way to get highly reliable opinions is to take photos of the guitar body (every possible angle) and post them here on the forum.

Seems to me some members know more about Fenders than the company itself does... :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:34 pm
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Could someone puh-leeze tell me where the mystical, magical Fender forest is -- where all the mystical, magical alder and ash comes from?

A guitar body is a piece of wood. Or, several pieces of wood. Period.

So long as it is fabricated from visually-pleasing tone-wood stock, correctly shaped to prototype, and meets the critical dimension specs as laid out by FEIC, FMI, or FMIC, it doesn't matter in the case of a custom guitar assembled by someone other than Fender. Quality Strat bodies are available from a number of alternate sources, many of them licensed by Fender to product such parts.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 2:32 pm
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Thanks Arjay, but a simple "I don't know" would have sufficed. :)


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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 2:35 pm
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jdolan707 wrote:
Thanks Arjay, but a simple "I don't know" would have sufficed. :)


Did you want me to lie?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 2:39 pm
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Quote:
Could someone puh-leeze tell me where the mystical, magical Fender forest is -- where all the mystical, magical alder and ash comes from?


It's in America ;) Just kidding.

You can look at Strat bodys on Ebay and see what the differences are in the looks. They have different CNC machine markings depending on where they're made. Just look up MIM strats, and then US strats and it'll give you an idea. Different models might be different, but it's a start.


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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 4:05 pm
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Thanks for the tip Jason.

Arjay, no I did not want you to lie to me, just address any of my questions. Thank you.


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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:23 am
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Location: In the Land of "Stratocaster"
Retroverbial wrote:
Could someone puh-leeze tell me where the mystical, magical Fender forest is -- where all the mystical, magical alder and ash comes from?

A guitar body is a piece of wood. Or, several pieces of wood. Period.

So long as it is fabricated from visually-pleasing tone-wood stock, correctly shaped to prototype, and meets the critical dimension specs as laid out by FEIC, FMI, or FMIC, it doesn't matter in the case of a custom guitar assembled by someone other than Fender. Quality Strat bodies are available from a number of alternate sources, many of them licensed by Fender to product such parts.

Arjay

Frankly, he did answer your question... what part of what he said isn't clear?

jmattis wrote:
One possible way to get highly reliable opinions is to take photos of the guitar body (every possible angle) and post them here on the forum.

Seems to me some members know more about Fenders than the company itself does... :lol:

Want help or not?

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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:31 am
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Strat-Slinger wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
Could someone puh-leeze tell me where the mystical, magical Fender forest is -- where all the mystical, magical alder and ash comes from?

A guitar body is a piece of wood. Or, several pieces of wood. Period.

So long as it is fabricated from visually-pleasing tone-wood stock, correctly shaped to prototype, and meets the critical dimension specs as laid out by FEIC, FMI, or FMIC, it doesn't matter in the case of a custom guitar assembled by someone other than Fender. Quality Strat bodies are available from a number of alternate sources, many of them licensed by Fender to product such parts.

Arjay

Frankly, he did answer your question... what part of what he said isn't clear?

jmattis wrote:
One possible way to get highly reliable opinions is to take photos of the guitar body (every possible angle) and post them here on the forum.

Seems to me some members know more about Fenders than the company itself does... :lol:

Want help or not?


+ 100

He want an easy to follow guide and there is none . That 's all


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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 2:03 pm
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As for identification many custom shop strats are stamped in the neck pocket.
It can be a number or a model e.g cc 60 for closet classic 1960.
They also often have a custom shop logo with the words relic stamped just below the neck pickup route.
Most recent US strats have a sticker in the neck pocket.
The code indicates the model of strat and often the color.
This can be referred back to the pdfs on the fender site.
There are of course obvious structural differences and finish coat differences which can also help identify the origin of the body.
I think fender now probably produce a billion trillion strats a year or at least somewhere around that figure :D
Hope this helps :D


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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 3:26 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Could someone puh-leeze tell me where the mystical, magical Fender forest is -- where all the mystical, magical alder and ash comes from?


Ha ha ha! A guy with as much experience as you ought to know that the wood doesn't attain mystical, magical properties until the Elves and Brownies visit the hallowed Fender factories in the hours just before dawn.

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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 5:46 am
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Thank you again to those who have tried to enlighten me on the shapes of American Strats vs. others.

In regards to Arjays comments. He is correct in his statements, but he is assuming that I am building a guitar. I am not, and he clearly didn't address any of my questions because of his assumption. IF I were building a guitar, his comments would be valid and appreciated. I am not, and his response doesn't address shape in any manner.

But, what if I wanted to build a type of custom guitar cases that held American strats perfectly? That fit like a glove? I mean tight. I would need to know about the reliefs, cutaways, horn positions, butt width, etc.

It seems the answer is that the American Strats are not all the same. The basic shape is very similar (not exact), but the reliefs have changed over the years. So, perhaps a case that really fits a Strat really well isn't a possibility. "Close" will have to be close enough in this instance I suppose.


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Post subject: Re: Strat questions
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:38 am
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If someone's selling an aquamarine metallic or gun metal blue body then I'm certain it's Fender as Squier never used those finishes. With solid colours it's a little harder to tell so I'd avoid those. Sunbursts are also very variable, I've seen really nice bursts on Mexican Fenders and Squiers and a couple of really bad bursts on high-end US Fenders.

I've bought Strat bodies and necks, both Fender and Fender licensed but I've always bought from reputable people (Stratosphere on ebay mostly). If the seller has low feedback and is also selling a Squier neck with a Fender decal then that's a good indication that something's wrong.

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